Toshiro's POV

"Captain, Rukia-chan… is gone!"

"What?!"

"We were in the bathroom. She was waiting with Momo right in there! I swear! When I came out, she was gone! I didn't sense any spiritual pressure or anything!"

"Hinamori, where'd she go?"

She didn't respond.

"She didn't notice Rukia-chan leaving," I lied.

Captain groaned. "Everyone, split up and look for her! Contact the others if you've found anything!"

Everyone got out of their gigais and left them to the soul candies.

Where is she? Where is she?! Could Aizen have taken her that easily? I doubt it. Matsumoto didn't sense any spiritual pressure. If it was him, she would've sensed something. Even if he was masking his presence, she would've picked something up. I hate to admit it, but he is too powerful to be able to mask himself completely.

I suddenly picked up a trace of Rukia. She's close! I contacted the others and told them where I was.

Hold on, Rukia. I'll be there in a moment.

Matsumoto's POV

This is my fault. Captain told me not to leave her side. But she was only a few feet away. How could I not have sensed anything?

And what's wrong with Momo? I know how she feels. I've been in the same situation many times. But I got over it. And I didn't have that much anger in me when it happened. She needs to grow up. She can hate Rukia-chan, but she should at least try not to make it obvious. Despite not showing it, Rukia-chan is a sensitive and fragile person. And Momo's on this mission to help protect Rukia! She's not here to hate her and make her feel bad. God, when this is over, I'm gonna give Momo a piece of my mind… again.

Suddenly, I thought back to Rukia-chan's break down. She said the Ichigo hated her. But I thought Ichigo loved her. If—no, when—I find Rukia-chan, I'll talk to her about it.

Geez, I never thought Rukia-chan to be the type to… think like that.

Suddenly, I got a call from Captain. I immediately picked up.

"Captain?"

"She's somewhere near me! Hurry!" He hung up.

I looked for Captain's spiritual pressure and hurried to it.

Momo's POV

That stupid girl is ruining everything! The only reason I wanted to come to the World of the Living was so I could spend some more time with Shiro-chan. Ever since that rat has come into his life, he's been spending less and less time with me and more with her! And now she's turned Matsumoto against me! Ever since I saw that Rukia while I was at the academy, she's taken away from me!

First, it was Abarai-kun. I fell in love with him when I met him at the academy. Then I saw him and Rukia in the forest. At first, I didn't think anything of it. Then someone told me to let go of Renji because it would be useless to try; he only has eyes for Rukia.

Then it was Kira. After a while, I developed feelings for him. Then, when he was drunk, I kissed him. That was the only way I could do it. When we were kissing, he moaned Rukia's next day, I asked him about it. He told me he was interested in Rukia! He told me that he had gone on a mission with her and realized how amazing and talented and sweet she was. My heart had been ripped out a second time.

Then it was Captain Aizen. He was after her and only her. He went through so much trouble to get to her. He pretty much forgot about me. I could've helped him just as much as she could've! I guess he was only protecting me but he could've just asked. And now, he's back for her again! What does he want with her?! I can help him more than she can! I can give him anything he wants! Anything! He should have known this. But he still chose her over me!

Then she took Shiro-chan. He was mine! Only mine! We would've been married in the future. We haven't talked about it, but I already know. We would've had children and happy lives. Then she came into his life and ruined everything!

And now even Matsumoto is against me! The way she spoke to me in the bathroom; she would've never done that if that trash never existed!

Why is that rat getting so much attention anyway? I don't see the big deal. If we were to lose her, what difference would it make? I bet Aizen only needs her as bait for that Ichigo guy. That's probably it. People should see this. Unless, she planed it all out. I gasped. That's what she's been doing this whole time! She made a plan to use Captain Aizen and Shiro-chan and everyone else. She caused everything that's happened so far! I bet she even convinced Aizen to do all those things, like betray me! She's been after me this whole time! She did all this to get attention. I gasped. And she has so many people caught in her web of lies. She even has my Shiro-chan! She's been using all of them!

Well, I was too smart to fall into her little trap. I'll present my theory to the Captain-Commander! He's smart enough to know that what I have to say is true! And I'll have all the credit for putting away that treacherous piece of trash! And they might even forgive Captain Aizen for what he's done. They'll see that it was Rukia that did all of it!

At the end, I'll have Captain Aizen and Shiro-chan back!

Rukia's POV

I'm so happy that I have such an amazing friend like Matsumoto. She's the only person, besides Kaien, that I've trusted enough to talk to them about my inner thoughts. She's so amazing. She's so helpful and kind. And she makes things happier with her strange humor and comments. I'm so glad she was there for me.

I rinsed my face with the cool water. When I looked up at the mirror, I saw a small child crying.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"My mommy, I can't find her!"

"Oh, don't cry. It'll be ok. Here, I'll help you find her. Will that make you smile?"

The small boy gave me a huge smile and nodded. He grabbed my hand and led me towards the door.

"Oh, wait. I have to wait for my friends," I said when I remembered about Matsumoto and Lieutenant Hinamori. He looked up at me with sad eyes. It won't take that long. I think I can go and come back before long. And what are the chances that Aizen would come for me at such a public place? "Ok, let's go."

The boy told me that his mom looked just like me. I think that helped him. He had stopped crying and was very sociable towards me. He even asked me for a piggy-back ride. I was carrying him on my back, just like Matsumoto and Captain Hitsugaya-san did for me.

Maybe I should've told Matsumoto where I was going. But the little boy couldn't wait. His mother is probably worried sick. Oh, I can't imagine the worry she's going through.

"Hey, miss, can we go to the candy store," the boy asked pointing to a store.

"But your mom is probably looking for you."

"Please," he begged.

I thought about it for a moment. "Fine, but we can't take too long."

"Yay, thank you so much," he cheered.

We went into the store and I let him choose something. I paid for it and we continued our search for his mom.

All of a sudden, I saw Hitsugaya-san running towards me.

"Rukia, where have you been? What happened? Are you hurt? Who took you? How did you get away?" he asked, his face covered with worry.

I was confused as to why he was so worried. I get that Aizen could be anywhere, but losing me wouldn't really matter. Unless… he cares about me. No. He was ordered to protect me. That's all. Right? "None of that happened. I was helping this little boy find his mom." Hitsugaya-san looked at the boy on my back.

"Rukia-chan!" Matsumoto called out. "Where have you been? Oh, you're ok, right? Please, tell me you're all right!"

"I'm fine, really. I was just—"

"Rukia, where the heck have you been?!" Renji said when he got to us.

Lieutenant Kira had also arrived. Then Lieutenant Hinamori did. I explained what I was doing and everyone sighed in relief.

"You gave me a heart attack, midget," Renji said.

I went up to him and stomped on his foot. He cringed and yelled out of pain. The little boy laughed.

"Huh, who's this?" Renji asked.

"You just noticed him?" I mumbled. "I was helping him find his mom. Did you not pay attention to my explanation?"

"Shut up!"

"Why, you," I said before we started to argue. Then I remembered what I had to do. "Hitsugaya-san, I have to find this child's mother."

"Rukia, we have to head back. It's getting late. It won't be safe going back so late."

"But—"

"We'll leave him with the security here."

"I looked back to the boy. "Is that all right?" I asked him.

He thought about it then nodded.

On our way back, I had one thing on my mind; Hitsugaya-san. He seemed to be worried about me more than failing his mission. Could it be that…? No, I'm imagining things. He's a captain and I'm—

Suddenly, a memory from when Aizen attacked me came to mind. "Stop, don't say things like that about yourself! You are important. People care about you! I care about you."

He cares about me. No! He would never fall for someone like me. Never! He probably just said that to make me feel better. And all those other times he's done or said nice things, they were out of pity. That's it. I know.

Then why can't I help but love him?

Normal POV

A man with brown hair walked into the room where the little bot was being kept.

"Oh, you have my little boy! Thank goodness! His mother was so worried."

The guard look at the boy and then to his supposed father. They looked nothing alike. "Hey, kid, is that your dad?"

The little boy nodded. The guard didn't think anything of it and let the boy go with his father.

"So, how many are with her?" the "father" asked.

"There were this many," the boy said holding up five fingers.

"Only five? The Captain-Commander has underestimated me. What did they look like?"

"One of them was tall and had red hair. Another was really short and had brown hair. She looked really angry. Another one had really big bulges under her shirt and orange-ish hair. Another had blond hair. He looked kinda sad-ish and sleepy. The last one was really, really short. But he had white hair."

"Hm," he said to himself. "He sent Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenants Matsumoto, Kira and Abarai. They made a mistake by bringing Hinamori here. She's in no condition to fight. She's too weak. She'd crumble if she saw me. But, that could be an advantage for me." He looked at the boy. "Thank you so much. You've helped me a lot. Here you are," the man said as he handed the child a bag full of sweets.

"Thanks, Mister," the boy said before running off.

Suddenly, a snake-ish man with grey hair appeared behind the man. "So did you get everything you needed, Aizen?"

"Yes. Things just might turn in our favor, Gin."

Ok, so firt off, I want to thank everyone that's reviewed and favorite-ed this fic. I'm soooo happy that you guys like it. second, someone in their review mentioned some slapping of the momo. I wanted to see if that's what others would want to see cuz it sounds like it would add to the story but I don't want it to look like momo's a punching bag in this. please, I need some opinions. leave a review, if you want, about what u think. if you do want some slapping, tell me who should do the slapping. geez, that all sounded so weird. anyway, thank you everyone. please review and enjoy the future chapters! ;)